August 16

St. Joachim, Confessor, Father of the B. V. Mary

White

Double of the Second Class

The holy Patriarch Joachim was the husband of St. Anne, and the father of Our Lady. This Feast, originally kept on March 20, was transferred to the day following the Assumption, in order to associate the Blessed Daughter and her father in their triumph.

He hath distributed, he hath given to the poor: his justice remaineth for ever and ever: his horn shall be exalted in glory. -- (Ps. 111. 1). Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord: he delighteth exceedingly in His commandments. V.: Glory be to the Father . . . -- He hath . . .

COLLECT.--O God, who of all Thy Saints didst will to choose the blessed Joachim to be father to the Mother of Thy Son: grant, we beseech Thee, that we who honor his festival, may evermore experience his patronage. Through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth . . .

EPISTLE ¤ Wisdom 31. 8-11
Lesson from the Book of Wisdom.

[The just man that hath not gone after earthly things is praised on earth and shall have glory everlasting.]

Blessed is the man that is found without blemish, and that hath not gone after gold, nor put his trust in money nor in treasures. Who is he, and we will praise him? for he hath done wonderful things in his life. Who hath been tried thereby, and made perfect, he shall have glory everlasting: he that could have transgressed, and hath not transgressed: and could do evil things, and hath not done them: therefore are his goods established in the Lord, and all the Church of the Saints shall declare his alms.

He hath distributed, he hath given to the poor: his justice remaineth for ever and ever. V.: His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the righteous shall be blessed.
Alleluia, alleluia. V.: O holy Joachim, spouse of Saint Anne, help now thy servants to save their souls. Alleluia.

GOSPEL ¤ Matthew 1. 1-16
 Beginning of the holy Gospel according to St. Matthew.

[The genealogy of Christ: He is conceived and born of a Virgin.]

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham. Abraham begot Isaac; Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judas, and his brethren; and Judas begot Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begot Esron,; and Esron begot Aram; and Aram begot Aminadab; and Aminadab begot Naasson; and Naasson begot Salmon; and Salmon begot Booz of Rahab; and Booz begot Obed of Ruth; and Obed begot Jesse; and Jesse begot David the king. And David the king begot Solomon, of her who had been the wife of Urias; and Solomon begot Roboam; and Roboam begot Abia; and Abia begot Asa; and Asa begot Josaphat; and Josaphat begot Joram; and Joram begot Ozias; and Ozias begot Joatham; and Joatham begot Achaz; and Achaz begot Ezechias; and Ezechias begot Manasses; and Manasses begot Amon; and Amon begot Josias; and Josias begot Jechonias and his brethren in the transmigration of Babylon. And after the transmigration of Babylon, Jechonias begot Salthiel; Salathiel begot Zorobabel; and Zorobabel begot Abiud; and Abiud begot Eliacim; and Eliacim begot Azor; and Azor begot Sadoc; and Sadoc begot Achim; and Achim begot Eliud; and Eliud begot Eleazar; and Eleazar begot Mathan; and Mathan begot Jacob; and Jacob begot Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus Who is called Christ.

Thou hast crowned him with glory and honor: and hast set him over the works of Thy hands, O Lord.

SECRET.--Receive, O most merciful God, the Sacrifice which we offer up to Thy majesty in honor of the holy Patriarch Joachim, the father of the Virgin Mary; that through his intercession, with that of his spouse and of his most blessed child, we may become worthy to obtain the perfect pardon of out sins, and to win eternal glory. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth . . .

It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God: and that we should praise and bless, and proclaim Thee, in the Assumption of the Blessed Mary, ever-Virgin: Who also conceived Thine only-begotten Son by the overshadowing of the Holy Ghost, and the glory of her virginity still abiding, gave forth to the world the everlasting Light, Jesus Christ our Lord. Through whom the Angels praise Thy Majesty, the Dominations worship it, and the Powers stand in awe. The Heavens and the heavenly hosts together with the blessed Seraphim in triumphant chorus unite to celebrate it. Together with these we entreat Thee that Thou mayest bid our voices also to be admitted while we say with lowly praise:

A faithful and wise steward, whom his lord set over his family; to give them their measure of wheat in due season.

POSTCOMMUNION.--We beseech Thee, O almighty God, that through these Mysteries which we have received and by the merits and prayers of blessed Joachim, father of the Mother of Thy beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, which plead for us, we may become worthy to receive Thy grace in this present life and eternal glory in the life to come. Through the same our Lord . . .